Windshield cleaner



`'urzle 7 1927;

Filed Maron 21', 1925 F. G. FOLBERTH ET `AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER /fz /l l/////////////1/////////////////// Patented June 7,' 1927.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

EREDERIcx e. EOLEERTH AND wILEIAu M. FOLEERTH, or CLEVELAND, omo,Assrenoas To 'rRIoo PRODUCTS coRroRArIoN, or BUFFALO, NEW YoRx.

WINDSHIELD CLEANER.

.Application led March 21, 1923. Serial No. 626,654. i

This invention relates to windshield.

cleaners, and more particularly to power actuated cleaners operated bydiierential fiuid pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide a cleaner having a motorcylinder and a movable element reciprocating in the cylinder in whichthe cleaner arm is directly connected `to the movable member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaner arm extendingthrough a slot in the cylinder, and sealing means for closing said slot,said means being movableA to permit actuation of the arm.

-A further object is to provide improved means for actuating asnap-overvalve mech-- anism by the movement of the movable member.

In the accompanying drawings, we have' shown one embodiment of theinvention. In this showing Figure l'is a perspective View of thewindshield of a motor vehicle showing the invention applied, .y

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the cleaner removed from the windshield,

Figure 3 is a 'central verticalv longitudinal sectional view,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail view of the valve actuating mechanism,

Figure 6 is a, transverse sectional viewfon line 6 6 of Figure y2,

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line 7 7 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of a portion of the cylinder showing the`slot closing means removed, and,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a connecting member by means of which'the cleaner arm is secured tothe movable member.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates thewindshield of a motor vehicle, which is formed of glass ory othertransparent material and is mounted in a suitable frame 2. The cleanercomprises a cylindrical member 3. arranged on the exterior of thewindshield and secured to the iframe by means ofv bolts 4. As shown,these bolts pass throughk the frame and are re-v iA set screw 11 passesthrough each of the plates 10 and is received in the piston.

The cylinder is provided with a slot 12 in which the member connectingthe piston Nto the wiper moves, said slot being so formed or arrangedthat in certain positions, or dur,` ing a certain range of travel'of thepiston, atmospheric air would be admitted through the slot to theinterior portion of the cylinder from which air is being withdrawn. Inorder to prevent this, means are provided for sealing the slot, whichmeans in the present disclosure is'carried by the cylinder and isdesigned for sealing or closing the slot, or that portion of the slotcommunicating with the position of the' cylinder that-is under thesuction or air withdrawin influence.

In t e particular embodiment shown, -the slot' is formed by cutting anopening through the cylindersubstantially tangentially of the innerwall, forming a relatively broad, -lat face 13 (see Figure 8). Above theslot, there is' provided a face 14, substantially at right angles to theface' 13. The face 14 is provided with an openin for the rece tion ofthe edge'of a lexib e element or ap valve 15,. which is adapted,to'normally close the slot 12. A spring 16 is also secured in thecylinder wall and this sprin bears against the flexible element 15 toyretaln it in position.

A connecting plate 17 is secured to the right angles, forming .adepending. portionl 10u 20, extending through the slot 12 and bearingagainst the face 13. The lower end of this depending portion is providedwith a sleeve r21,- adapted to receive a cleaner armv 22. This cleanerarmis best formed of va 105 slightly resilient material to permitadjustment toward and away from the windshield. The lower end of thecleaner arm is provided with a cleaner element holder 23. A

cleaner element yis mounted in thisy hblder. 110

As shown, the cleaner element consists oi a rigid backing strip 24,having a sheet of rubber 25 or similar material projecting there-y valve(not shown) may be provided, whereby the connection between the sourceof pressure and the valve casing may be cut off at will. The port.27communicates with a longitudinal assage 30. Adjacent the vend of theport 2 there is provided a threaded bore, 31, arranged at right anglesthereto.

This bore is adapted to. receive a plug 32 having a central opening 33Jformed therein. The exterior of/ the plug is providedwith acircumferential groove 34, having transverse openings 35 communicatingwith a central opening 33. A valve seat 36 is' formed on the-inner endof the plug. VThe inner end of the bore 3l communicates with a assage37, leading to one end of the cylin er. The passage 37 also communicateswith a longitudinal passage 38 communicating with the atmosphere. Thispassage is provided with a valve seat 39 on its inner end. A valve stem40, smaller in diameter than `the passage 38, extends through this 1nturn communicates 'with a' conduit 51,-

48. Thel inner en passa e and is'provided with ok posed valves 41 an 42,adapted to engage tlie valve seats 36 and 39, respectively.

The source of ress ure communicates with the opposite 'en of thecylinder through port 30. As shown, the end of this port communicateswith a transverse port 43,"ha'vinga threaded bore 44 formed therein. A'

plug' 45 is arranged in this bore and this plug is provided with acentral opening 46. The exterior of the plug is provided with acircumferential groove 47 communicating with the central o ening'throughpassages 44 communicates with 'a passage 5 0, which leading toA theother end ofthe cylinder.

The `passage 50 also communicates with passage 52 leading to theatmosphere.

' valve\stem 53 smaller in diameter thanthe 'pa'age 52 isarranged inthispassage.- y'The inner end -of thepassage is provided with' a valveseat '54.' The valve stemis provided` .with oppp'osed valves 55 and 56,adapted-to -en age the seats 49 and 54yrespectively.

itable means are provided to automatically shift the valves-tolalternately place the n opposite ends of the; cylinder in comthe enA of thel central Vopening, .is provided with a valve seat 49. The boremenace munication with the source of di'erential pressure. As shown, thevalve stems 4 0 aiid 53 are connected to an arm 57. This arm passesthrough a yoke 58. The yoke consists of a pair of substantially parallelarms having diverging portions 59 adjacent their ends and parallelextremities 60, arranged beyond'the divergingiportions. The oppositeends of the arms are connected by a loop 61.4 This yoke is pivotallymounted on a supporting member 62. The supporting member is secured tothe valve casing in any suitable manner (see Figures 2 and 4). a ltl isprovided with a pair of upwardly extending arms 63, having their ends 64arranged substantially parallel to' the body portion. These ends areprovided with notches on one side, adapted to receive the parallelextremities 60 of the yoke. The extremities of the yoke `are likewiseprovided With notches forming an interlocking fit.

A somewhat similar yoke is arranged on the op osite side fof the arms63. As shown, the yo e comprises a loop having parallel arms 66extending therefrom. These arms are provided with diverging portions 67and substantially parallel terminals 68. The terminals 68 are likewiseprovided with' notches adapted to receive the sides of the 9 5 endportions 65 of the arms 63. The yokes are connected by a spring 69,whereby movement of one of them beyond the center will cause the otherto be snappedto the opposite side. Suitable means are provided formoving the up er yoke when the pistons approach of a stroke. As shown, atubular guide 70 is arranged on the cylinder, and this guide is adaptedto receive lan arm 7l. 105 One end of the arm is offset, as at 72, andthe arm is provided with a projecting portion 73 arranged adjacent theother end.- The other end of the arm is provided with an olf-set 74,arranged at an angle to the projections 72 and 73 and adapted to bereceived in the upper yoke' of the valve actuating mechanism. The arms72 and 73 are arranged in the path of the connecting member 17 and areadapted to be engaged by the 115 sides of the depending portions of thisconnecting member. vIn operation, the pistons 7 are reciprocated inthecylinder by differential pressure existing in opposite ends of thecylinder. The 120 .pipe' 28 is'connected `to a source of pressure orsuction and is providedWith a valve (not shown) whereby the Acasing .3may be connected to the source of power at .'will. With lthe valvesinthe postionfshown inl Figure 3 195 of the-drawings, the pistons aremoving to- Ward the` right end'of the-cylinder; This end of. thecylinder is in communication with the pipe 2 8 through the passages '2730,43,

groove 47, passages 48, chamber 46, passage '139 i and pipe 51. Thevalve face .55 is disconnected from the seat 49 and valve face 56 is inengagement with the seat 54, thus cutting olf communication between thisend of the cylinder and the atmosphere. T he opposite end of thecylinder is in communication with t-he atmosphere through the passages37 and 38, the valve 42 thus being disengaged from the valve seat 39.Communi-` member 71 swings the upper yoke 66 on its pivot', the yokebeing connected to the arm 74. Vhen the piston approaches the right endof the cylinder, the yoke is swungoutwardly away from the supportingplate 62. As the upper end of the spring 69 passes the center line orpivot point of the lower yoke 58, the ltensionof the spring snapsthisyoke over to its other position and movesthe valves to the rightinFigure 3, through the connecting member 57. The valve face then engagesthe seat 49 and .the face 56 is disengaged from the seat 53. This opensthe right end of the cylinder to the atmosphere through the passages 50and 52 -and disconnects this end of the cylinder from the source ofpower.

42 on the seat 39 and disconnecting the left end of the cylinder fromthe atmosphere. The engagement of valve face 42 and the valve seat- 39disconnects the left end of the cylinder from the atmosphere. Thedisengagement of valve face 41 and the valve seat 36 connects the leftend of the cylinder tothe source ot 'power through the passage 27,groove 34, ports 35., chamber 33, and passage 37. rIihe piston thenmoves in the opposite direction until the end of the stroke isappi'oachedwhenl the connecting member-engages t-he arm 73 and moves thevalves vto their original positions. It will beapparent that theprovisionof spring control means for moving the lower-yoke, to which.the valves\are connected, prevents the valves from being stopped in ahalf-Way position The moveof the guide member 70.

The reciprocationofthe piston iii the cyl' inder reciprocatesthe cleanerelement'24 over the front of the windshield so. that the rubber strip 25engages the surface of shield to remove foreign matter. The conf Thevalve 40 is likewise moved to the right, seating the valve face as it.travels in said slot.

the Windnecting member 20 is relatively thin and is able to move in theslot 12 by slightly displacing the flexible strip 15. The power of themotor is suiicient to force this strip outwardly and the connectingmember moves to the right' or left and the displaced portion of theliiexible strip immediately assumes its former position whenaconnecting-member has passed, due tothe tension of spring 16. Byproviding such construction, it. is possible to increase the length fofthe stroke of the motoi in proportion to the length of the cylinder andclean ractically the entire surface of the windshield. From .aninspection of Figure 6 of the -drawings,*it will be seen that thesurface 13 forms a bearing for the connecting member and further forms arelatively broad engaging surface for the Hexible strip 15, thusreducing the possibility of leakage.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape` size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to Without departing from lthe spirit of theinvention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Ve claim: i

1. In a suction operated motor for windshield cleanersa casing, a pistonmember arranged in said casing, said casing being 'provided with a slot,wiper actuating member extending through said slot and con'- nected tosaid piston member, and means for normally closing said slot.

2. In' a suction operated.motor for windshield cleaners, a casing, apiston member arran ed in said casing, ai casing being provi ed with aslot, wiper actuating member extending through said slot and coiinectedto said piston member, a flexible membernormally closing said slot, saidflexible member being adapted to be moved by said wiper actuatingmember, and means for no rmally: retaining said flexible member 1nclosed position.

3. In a suctionV operated motor for Windshield cleaners, a casing, apiston member arranged rin said casing, said casing being provided witha slot, Wiper actuating member extending through said slot and connect--ed to said ,piston member, and a yielding member closing said slot, saidyielding member being adaptedto be moved away from said' slot by saidWiper actuating member 4.' In a'suction operated y'motor for wind-'shield cleaners, a casing, apiston member arranged 1nsaid casing, saidcasing being providedwith a slot, wiper actuating meinber extendingthrough said slotand connected to'said piston member, a yielding memberarranged overl said slot, and a spring to normally retain said yielding-member llO against said cylinder, said yielding member being adapted tobe moved away trom said cylinder by wiper actuating member travel'- ingin said slot. e

- 5. In a suction operated motor for windshield cleaners, a cylinderhaving a longitudinal slot formed therein, a piston mounted in saidcylinder, a member connected to said piston and extending through saidslot, and a yielding member normally closing said slot, said yieldingmember being adapted to be moved away from said slot by said firstmentioned member las it travels in said slot.

6. In a suction operated motor VJfor windshield cleaners, a cylinderhaving a longitudinal slot formed therein, a piston mounted in saidcylinder, a connecting member secured to said piston and project-ingthrou h said slot, -a cleaner larm connecte l to sai member, a yieldingmember normally,

closing said slot, said yielding member being adapted to beA moved awayfrom sa1d.slot

l bysaid connecting member traveling there,-

in, Aand a spring to return said yielding member to its normal position#7. In a suction operated motor for windrshield cleaners, a cylinderhaving a longitudinal slot formed therein, a pair of spaced pistonsmounted in said cylinder, a web connecting saidpistons, said web beingprovided with a substantially. flat face, aconnecting member secured tothe' ilat face of said web, said connecting member being rovided with adepending portion exten ing through said slot, and a yielding membernormally closing 'said slot, said yielding member being adapted to bemoved away.

'fromsaid slot by said connecting member traveling therein.

8. In a suction operated windshield cleaner, a .cylinder'having alongitudinal slot therein,

-a flexible closure for closing the cylinder slot whereby a vacuouscondition may be created within the cylinder, iafplston operable in thecylinder and carrym a wiper supporting part extending throng the slotand progressively opening the closure at a point spaced from thevacuouszonel 1n the cylinder as said part moves alonthe slot, said closuresealing the ,slot int e rear `oif the part as it advances, means tendingto createl a vacuous condition. in the cylinder alternately on opposite.sides of theV piston,

and a wiper carried bypsaid part.' g

9. In a suction operated windshield cleaner, a cvlinder having alongitudinal slot, 'one wallof which 'extends tangentially, a' closureBap secured to the opposite wall of the cylinder slot'for seating onsaid irst wall to close thefslot to the admission `of atmospheric.pressure, la piston operable in the cylinder,

and a wiperl carrying member nthe piston having 'a thml lportionextendingthrou h, the' slot beneath the closurev and y in atneer-,eac

Contact with the tangential wall iormovement thereover by the piston,said thin ortion lifting the closure ap only slig tly from its seat askit passes therebeneath.

l0. In a suction operated windshield wiper, a cylinder, a pistonreciprocable therein, said cylinder having a longitudinal slot in itswall, a wiper carrying member operable by the piston and projectingthrough the cylinder slot for operating a wiper, means for alternatelyconnecting the o posite ends of the cylinder to a source ci) suction toeiiect operation of the piston, and means for closing the cylinder sloton the suction side of the piston, y.

1l. In a suction operated windshield cleaner, a cylinder having alongitudinal slot in its wall, a piston operable in the cylinder, awiper carrying member operable by the piston and projecting through theslot to the exterior of the cylinder for operating a wiper over awindshield glass, valve mechanism for lacing the opposite ends of thecylinder a ternately in communication with .a source of pressure formoving the piston back and forth in the cylinder, and means for normallyclosing the cylinder slot against the admission of atmospheric pressuretherethrough and permitting the movement of said carrying member in theslot. A 12. n a suction operated windshield cleaner, a cylinder havmg alongitudinal slot therein, a piston operable in the cylinder and havingspaced packing elements, means for connecting the opposite ends ofthecylin- -der alternately to a source of suction for operating theipiston,a wiper carrying member connected to the piston and extending throughthe slot at a point intermediate of the spaced packin elements, and aflexible mission of'atmospheric pressure and permitting the wipercarrying member to move along the slot, said wiper carrying member'opening thevalye where it asses through the slot and at a point s acefrom the zone of suction within the cy inder.

13. vIn a windshield cleaner, a cylinder, a.

piston lreciprocable therein, `means for alternately placing theopposite ends Vof the cylin-l der in communication with a source ofsuction for effecting reciprocation of the piston, said cylinder havinga. longitudinal slot which extends'into the suction zone of the pistonand extending from within'A valve for closing t e cylinder slot to theadv p l Inv testimonywhereof, lwe .aflix our signai tures. l

FREDERICK G. FOLBERTH M. FOLBEBTH.

